Minnesota DNR completes Nemadji State Forest bridge, road improvement project

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has completed a bridge replacement and road improvement project on the Net River Forest Road in the Nemadji State Forest.

According to a DNR press release issued on Thursday, the project marked the final phase of a multiyear effort to reconstruct the road to make it safer and more accessible for recreation and forest management.

The project was paid for with funding from the Get Out MORE initiative, a one-time investment of $150 million to improve recreation on public lands and waters in the state.

According to the release, the Net River Forest Road is the main access into the north side of the state forest — partially located in northeastern Pine County — and the primary access to the recreational amenities.

The project area is also part of a network of snowmobile and off-highway vehicle trails in the north side of the state forest.

“This is a very rewarding project to see completed,” said Matt Huseby, DNR’s Forestry Roads Program coordinator, in the release. “State forests offer so many outdoor recreational opportunities, including trails, hunting, fishing and camping. The improved road and bridge make it safer and easier for everyone to access those opportunities.”